Ari Lennox Explains Love For Ja Rule & Why He's Never Canceled

BY Erika Marie 4.7K Views
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Ari Lennox Ja Rule
Ari Lennox revealed that she's a stan for Ja Rule as she reveals she thinks he a "good person" and an enormous talent.

Shea Butter Baby star Ari Lennox is enjoying the fruits of her success. The First Lady of Dreamville's "Shea Butter Baby" single recently became certified RIAA Gold, and soon she'll be visiting our friends Down Under for a few live shows. The soul singer stopped by the Skullcandy Podcast to share insights into her career and joked about forcing her younger brothers to learn choreography to a Ja Rule song when they were little.

Reflecting on Ja Rule's reign, Ari called the rapper "everything." She added, "There are people that try him and I do not like those people," she said. "I think they're disgusting, soulless pieces of crap because Ja Rule to me is life. Had some of the most beautiful collaborations in the world, or in life in general." The Ja praise didn't stop there.

"And his passion was just—I could feel that, it was beautiful," Ari continued. "He was just talkin' real stuff." The R&B singer said that there are plenty of talented rappers today, but Ja had a way of making a "girl feel like, 'I'm your b*tch, I'm your bottom b*tch, I'm your side b*tch. I'm all these bitches to you...or your wife," she added with a laugh. For the record, she, too, believes Ja was scammed in the Fyre Festival scandal.

As much as Ari wanted Ja Rule's music to be the "background to [her] love life," she admitted that it didn't happen. Watch Ari Lennox's full interview with Skullcandy Podcast below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.